painting help

Well here you go, another paint thread where the poster has never painted before. I am starting to prepare myself for painting my 66 Dart. I have experimented with paint cans to find the paint scheme I want. I will post all pics at the end of this opening post since I have never found success in putting pics in the middle as I talk about them. Anyway I am going to be going with a 3 color scheme and I will be using Nason which I am told is a dupont off brand. I've ordered the paint and it's going to be basecoat/clearcoat. The base is "Ful-base B/C basecoat" as on the data sheet. The clear will be "selectclear 465-00 clearcoat as per data sheet. I will need to get a better gun to do the finished clearcoat.
I will start my experience in the engine compartment some time in the next few days. I have the front fenders off the car and all suspension and k-frame is removed. It has been sanded down to bare metal and I plan on priming it with the gun I have now. It was a friends that used to paint for a living so I know it will be good for primer. I am going to need to get a decent gun for the color and clear coat. I bought a grease/wax remover to wipe it down before any painting and I understand the importance of the prep.
Now for the first questions, My data sheet for the base coat says in the mixing reducing "8:1/2:4.
8 Parts ful base
1/2 part ful-base 483-30 activator
4 parts ful-base 441-2X reducers. "

1. My question is how much would you recommend I mix to do an engine compartment. I dont want to waste paint by mixing to much then having to throw it away because the pot life says 4 hours. I have purchased 3 qts of the white, 2 quarts of the red, and 2 quarts of the black. They are going to put all colors in quart containers so I only have to open as I need to.
2. When mixing what does the term spray viscosity "20-21" #2 zahn cup mean?
3. Also how do I know what tip will give me the best coating? it lists 1.3mm to 1.6mm depending on the type of gun.
next it says to apply 2 medium wet coats or to hiding? allow each coat to flash dull/dry.
4. Recoating: anytime

Then lastly it says drying time: allow basecoat to set up for 15 minutes prior to clear coating.

Now when doing the clear coat what should I do differently to get a nice gloss/shine. As I said the engine compartment will be the first area and I dont really want to have to wetsand and buff in there. Is that possible to not have to do by applying the clear thicker or differently?

Now i dont see a problem with doing the engine compartment but how do I get all this done in the timeline when I go to do the whole body? how long can the basecoat wait while I change and spray my other colors. I wont be painting the car until the spring but I wanted to get all materials now before the laws change on what we can buy/spray as I live in Pa and the neighboring Maryland must have already changed what can be used. This way I have everything I need.

Im not trying to build a showcar so all i need is a nice finish. I realize that the exterior of the car will need wet sanded and buffed. That alone will be another first time task. I have a thread started in the restoration forum under "66 Dodge Dart" if you want to check out my build as I go.

I know I probably left many questions not asked, and I know I will screw some of this up and have to redo some or all. Guess that will be the learning curve. I appreciate any suggestions, information and tips on what I need to do. Body work will be done by someone else at this time unless he doesnt move fast enough to get me ready for a spring painting, but thats really something I dont want to tackle on my own. He owes me some money and would rather work off his debt!

Sorry for the long post but I am sure this is only the beginning of my questions.
Thanks Rod
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